3of44Houston Astros Marwin Gonzalez (9) argues with home plate umpire Paul Nauert after striking out to end in the game during an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

4of44Houston Astros third base coach Gary Pettis (8) tries to pull Marwin Gonzalez (9) away as he argued with home plate umpire Paul Nauert after striking out to end in the game during an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

8of44Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Ketel Marte (4) rounds second base on is way to third on his triple in the fourth inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

9of44Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (2) tags Arizona Diamondbacks A.J. Pollock (11) out at second base during the first inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

15of44Arizona Diamondbacks Daniel Descalso (3) celebrates his in-the-park home run with teammates in the fourth inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

16of44Arizona Diamondbacks Daniel Descalso (3) runs home during his in-the-park home run in the fourth inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

17of44Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jeff Mathis (2) reaches for Houston Astros Alex Bregman's foul ball during his at bat in the third inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

18of44Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Ketel Marte (4) makes the throw to first base as Houston Astros Alex Bregman grounded out in the third inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

19of44Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Fiers (54) reacts as he walks back to the dugout after the third inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

20of44Houston Astros third baseman J.D. Davis (28) catches Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder David Peralta's pop up in the third inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

22of44Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) turns the double play after tagging Arizona Diamondbacks Paul Goldschmidt (44) out at second base in the first inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

24of44Veteran Roy Lange gets a thumbs up from a man in the crowd as the Astros honored him in the fourth inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

25of44Houston Astros relief pitcher James Hoyt (51) sits in the dugout in the ninth inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

26of44Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) reacts, believing he had checked his swing, after he was called out on strikes in the sixth inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

27of44Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) reacts, believing he had checked his swing, after he was called out on strikes in the sixth inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

28of44Houston Astros Jose Altuve (27) reacts, believing he had checked his swing, after he was called out on strikes in the sixth inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

30of44Houston Astros J.D. Davis (28) reacts on third after getting tagged out as Houston Astros catcher Max Stassi ground into a double play in the fifth inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

31of44Houston Astros Marwin Gonzalez (9) throws his bat after striking out in the fourth inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

34of44Houston Astros third baseman J.D. Davis (28) scrambles to make the throw to second baseman Jose Altuve (27) as Arizona Diamondbacks Jeff Mathis ground into a double play in the seventh inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

35of44Houston Astros third baseman J.D. Davis (28) reacts after striking out in the seventh inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

36of44Cameron Gooch, 9, hands out the lineups to the umpire crew with Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch (14) before the start of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston. Cameron was participating in the Make-A-Wish program.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

38of44Cameron Gooch, 9, stands of the field for the National Anthem with Houston Astros Alex Bregman (2) and Marwin Gonzalez (9) before the start of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston. Cameron was participating in the Make-A-Wish program.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

39of44Cameron Gooch, 9, high-fives Carlos Correa in the dugout before the start of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston. Cameron was participating in the Make-A-Wish program.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

40of44Cameron Gooch, 9, high-fives Carlos Correa in the dugout before the start of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston. Cameron was participating in the Make-A-Wish program.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

41of44Cameron Gooch, 9,sits in the dugout with Houston Astros relief pitcher Will Harris and Colin McHugh before the start of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston. Cameron was participating in the Make-A-Wish program.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

42of44Cameron Gooch, 9, is interviewed by the media with Houston Astros relief pitcher Will Harris before the start of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston. Cameron was participating in the Make-A-Wish program.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

43of44Cameron Gooch, 9, is interviewed by the media with Houston Astros relief pitcher Will Harris before the start of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston. Cameron was participating in the Make-A-Wish program.Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

44of44Cameron Gooch, 9, stands of the field for the National Anthem with Houston Astros Alex Bregman (2) and Marwin Gonzalez (9) before the start of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Houston. Cameron was participating in the Make-A-Wish program.Photo: Houston Chronicle

The Astros, previously impervious to their own mistakes and unforgiving to their opposition's, reverted to their worst habits in Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Diamondbacks.

The Astros scored 18 runs on Tuesday and Wednesday, but they do not appear finished with a second-half lull that has cast doubt over their postseason potential and soured their mood lately.

In the final of four games against the Diamondbacks, lefty Patrick Corbin (10-11), who began the day with a 4.52 ERA, cut down MLB's most productive offense with a slider that tempted 10 swinging strikes. He struck out seven batters and pitched 8 2/3 scoreless innings.

Despite the Astros going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, manager A.J. Hinch seethed over how the game ended.

Corbin likely would have completed the shutout were it not for a two-out double by Yuli Gurriel in the ninth. Then, for the final out, Marwin Gonzalez was called out on strikes by home plate umpire Paul Nauert on an outside fastball from Archie Bradley.

"I know we're not supposed to talk about the umpires," Hinch said, "but, honestly, today, to have the 27th out be taken away...it ain't fair."

"Marwin gets to take a strikeout to end the game," he continued. "We could have built an inning after that, and I'm tired of it. I'm tired of our guys getting taken to task for knowing the strike zone. That's not the reason that we lost today. That's not the reason that we've had a tough week, but it's garbage when you start getting at-bats taken away from you."

Spray chart for Marwin Gonzalez's final at-bat against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017.

Photo: Chron Sports

Hinch said his team was disadvantaged by a skewed strike zone the past week, in which the same umpiring crew was used for the four games between the Astros and Diamondbacks. After the Diamondbacks defeated the Astros 2-0 on Monday, Hinch complained that opposing starter Zack Greinke "got the benefit of a liberal strike zone."

"Take nothing away from Corbin. Grienke had an excellent game," Hinch said, "But this is an accumulation of a week-long feeling that we've gotten the wrong end of these strike zones."

In contrast to Corbin's efficiency, Mike Fiers (7-8, 4.32) gave up three runs (two earned) and lasted 5 1/3 innings because he fell behind in the count often.

Before the game, Hinch said that what had led to Fiers' 5.58 ERA in his previous seven starts was him not throwing enough strikes. Fiers struggled again on Thursday.

A 37-pitch third inning ruined his chance for a deep outing. He started it by walking Ketel Marte, sending him to third with a pickoff throw that rolled into the outfield and walking Chris Herrmann.

With Gurriel holding on Herrmann at first, Jeff Mathis slashed a single narrowly out of Gurriel's reach to drive in Marte for the first score.

Then, Fiers slowed down his pace and regained enough control to end the jam. After inducing a pop up, Fiers came back from 3-1 and 3-0 counts to strike out consecutive batters.

With two outs in the fourth, Fiers surrendered an inside-the-park home run to Daniel Descalso, who scored after his line drive to center caromed awkwardly and Jake Marisnick fumbled the ball.

In the sixth, Fiers allowed his 30th home run of the season, which tied him for the major-league lead. Jake Lamb had clobbered a first-pitch 89 mph fastball for his 26th home run to make it 3-0 Diamondbacks.

"Solo home runs don't usually beat you, but today they did," Fiers said.

Fiers also said an inconsistent strike zone favored the Diamondbacks.

"It was one-sided," he said. "It's tough when the zone is that big for them and it shrinks for your guys."

Francisco Liriano, who had said before the game he still is figuring out how to transition from a starter to a reliever since being acquired at the trade deadline, lowered his ERA to 5.73 with 1 2/3 innings of satisfactory relief. He ended the sixth and seventh innings with double plays.

Hinch removed Liriano after he gave up a single to David Peralta to start the eighth. Peralta scored the final run when catcher Max Stassi overthrew third base for an error.

The Astros squandered their best scoring opportunities with multiple men on base in the middle innings.

Alex Bregman could not drive in Marisnick and George Springer in the fourth, but he had another chance with them on base in the sixth. Bregman lined a ball 361 feet to left-center, where Herrmann – a Tomball native and Alvin Community College alumnus – made a leaping catch in front of the visitor's bullpen.

After Corbin advanced the runners with a wild pitch to set up his most difficult bind of the game, Jose Altuve struck out on a check-swing confirmed by first base umpire Ramon DeJesus and Gurriel whiffed at a slider in the dirt.

The game's final at-bat reached a full count, but Gonzalez, batting from the left side against the righthanded Bradley, swung only at one pitch: a curveball in the middle of the zone. The other strikes appeared to be low and outside.

Gonzalez alluded to Nauert when asked about the strike calls.

"I should not be the one talking about where the pitch was," Gonzalez said of the final strike called. "It should be the guy behind the plate answering that question."

Hunter Atkins joined the Houston Chronicle in April 2016. He has written for Rolling Stone, Forbes, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, National Geographic, Popular Science and ESPN The Magazine, among others. His assignments have ranged from an investigative article on gun violence in Chicago for Rolling Stone to the story of the world champion in competitive stair climbing for the New York Times.

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